Daunheimer, 52, never outgrew his passion for fast cars. He will be among the drivers to watch when the fourth annual Funny Car Nationals return to U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin.

While the Funny Cars take center stage this weekend, Daunheimer will look to make noise in the Nostalgia Dragster division. Daunheimer, who is known as Dragster Dave, will bring his Frantic Fueler front engine dragster to the dragway.

"The front engine is all I ever wanted to do," Daunheimer said. "My dad took me to the famous Union Grove up in Wisconsin when I was a kid and met Big Daddy Don Garlits. From there, it's history.

FUNNY CAR NATIONALS

Where: U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin

When: Saturday, with gates opening at 9 a.m., time trials at 10 and eliminations at 5 p.m.

"I always had a passion for the front engine car. My first car was a 150 small block front engine dragster, and then I got silly and bought a rear engine dragster. I didn't care for that."

Saturday's program also will include a non-points program for Martin's weekly Lane Automotive Bracket Racing Series. The track also will hold the drawing for its Engine Pro Giveaway, in which one of its weekly drag racers will receive an $18,000 racing engine. The top 10 drivers in the track's Top Eliminator and Modified divisions are eligible.

Daunheimer does have West Michigan ties. He is sponsored by Spectrum Illumination of Saugatuck. He also set a Nostalgia track record at Martin two years ago when he completed the quarter-mile with a pass of 5.94 seconds.

"We had one of those fairy tale, make-believe seasons in 2006," Daunheimer said. "This year, we have tried to get more aggressive on the car, and it doesn't like it. It has been more of an up-and-down year.

"We are chomping at the bit to get up to Martin. When you run Nitro, so many things affect the way you run the thing down the track. We have to put the best tune-up we know and hope for the best. But we are confident we can run 6.60 at 220 to 230 miles per hour. Anything else will be a bonus. It's our season ender, and we are looking for big things in front of our sponsors."